Wheel



Feb. i3, 1923. 1,445,223 J. H. LOCKETT WHEEL Filed May 29, 1922 Fatented heh. i3, i923.

J'MES H. LDCKETT, OF,

lgltdt OAKLAND, GLFORNA.

WHEEL.

.application tiled may 29,

Y '0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, JAMEs LoonnTT, a c1tizcn of the United States7 and a'resident of Oakland, county of laineda,' and:

State ot' California, have invented a new an/dusefnl l/Vheel, of which the following is a speciiication.

The present invention relates to improvements in wheels and has particular reference to means for cushioning the same. The principal object of the invention is to introduce shock absorbing or cushioning means between the rim and the hub ott the wheel in such a manner that the cushioningr means as such does not make contact with the road bed or the rail onwhich the vehicle travels but is interposed between the rim and the hub in such a manner as to be covered altogether by the supporting structure. A. further object of the inventiony is to provideai plurality of cushioning members (3o-operating with each other in such a manner that each of them will support the load independently of the other in case the latter becomes damaged which feature also allows 'of the removal and the replacing or one cushioning member while the full load rests on the wheel. lt is further proposed to provide a construction that will not allow of a complete collapse ot the wheel even though all the cushioning members should collapse. Further objects and advantages will appear as the description ot' my device proceeds.

The preferred forms of my. invention are illustrated in the accompanying" drawing in which Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the wheel of a railroad car havingr my cushioning means attached thereto, a portion being broken away; Figure 2, an end view of the same partly shown in section; Figure 3, a. side elevation of a truck wheel having my cushioning means attached thereto; Figure 4, a sile elevation of the same partly in section and Figure 5 a detail View showing the surface of one of the members en- `aging the cushioning means. While l havel shown only the preferred forms of the invention l wish to have it understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached without departing 'from the spirit of the invention.

The axle (1) has the hub (2) supported thereon. For the purposes of this invention itfdoes not make any difference whether 1922. Serial No. 564,399.

the hub rotates on the axle or is keyed tothe same and driven by it. yll`he .hub is provided with a peripheral flange (3) to Awhich are secured on opposite sides the disks (et) and ((5) by any suitable means as for instance by the bolts (7) and the nuts (8), retaining rings (9) being interposed -loe-tween the plates and the holding members roit the bolts. The two plates are held in spaced relation to each other by means ot' the rings (ll)- and (12) secured by suitable boltsl (13). The plates which are disc-shaped terminate at their outer periphery in webs (la) and (16) adaptedto receive and to surround the inner circumferential portion of the cushioning member (17) which is shown in the drawing as an inflatedpneumatic tire but which may be replaced by any other suitable cushioning means.. The rim (18) of `the wheel has an internal 'tl-ange (19) extending therefrom, the inner edge of which is receivedv between the two plates (4) and (6) and holds the rim in vertical alinenient with thelplat'es'. The 'lla-nge (19) is also provided with webs (2l) and extendingr from opposite sides of the flange and curved in crosssection so as to snugly iit over the outer circumference of the cushioning' means. As shown in Figure 2 the webs are preferably arranged in such a manner that each wo co-operate in completely surrounding the cushioning means while not interfering with the radial motion of the flange and the rim relative to the plates (4) and (6) and the hub, the latter motion being completely controlled by the cushioning` n'iembers. l i

If the wheel is to be driven from the axle and to impart motion to the vehicle l preferably use corrugated surfaces for engagement between the various webs mentioned and the cushioning means so as to increase friction between the same and to render the friction more intensive than that between the rim and the rail or road bed on which the vehicle travels. @ne of these corrulLfated surfaces (23) is illustrated in4 Figure 5, but it will be understood that various other means may be used for increasing friction between the webs and the cushioning member.

It will be noticed that the outer one (12) ot the spacingrings is' disposed rather close to the inner periphery ot' the iange (19) so as to allow a limited play of the latter cushioning members should fail.

rlhe advantages of my Wheel will be readily understood from the foregoing description. The construction is perfectly rigid as far as lateral motion is concerned and will withstand' any lateral pressurethat a rigid Wheelof similar size and similar Weight would resist. Radia'lly it is allowed to yield to shocks practically tothe same extent as `an inflated automobile tire and it is not dependent in its operation on both of the cushioning members since even if one of them should collapse, the other one'will maintain the load due tothe fact that lateral displacement of the rim relative to the guide plates (4) and (6) is prevented. rlhis feature also allows of, the removal and replacement of one of the cushioning means Without relieving the Wheel of the pressure of the load. The fact that the inflated tires or other cushioning means are surroundedv lcom.-

l pletely by the supporting structure elimliflange.

nates rapid deterioration of the cushion, due to exposure to the elements and abrasion due to frictional contact with the road surface.

rllhe form shown in Figures 3 and 4 differs from that shown in Fligures l andA 2 substantially only in the form of the rim. The rim of Figure 2 is adapted to be used for railroad carsyvhile the rim (24) of Figure 4lis designed to be used for motor trucks or other vehicles engaging the road bed and is preferably provided with an additional solid cushioning member (26) on its outer periphery.

l claim:

l. ln a Wheel, a hub, a rim having an internal ange thereon` guide means radiating from lthe hub slidably engaging the flange for maintaining the rim in vertical aline-ment, and cushioning means interposed bet-Ween the rim and the hub.

2. ln a Wheel., a. hub, a rim having an internal flange thereon, guide means radiating from the hub engaging the flange for maintaining the rim in vertical alinement, and cushioning means interposed between the rim and the hub on opposite sides of the 3. ln a Wheel, a hub, a rim having an internal flange thereon, guide means radiating from the hub engaging the flange for maintaining the rim in vertical alinement, and

pneumatic cushioning tubes interposed be-V tween the rim and the hub on opposite sides of the flange.

4f. ln a Wheel, a hub,a rim having an internal flange thereon with lateral Webs'extending from its sides, vertical guide meinbers for the flange extending from the hub engaging the flange on. opposite sides and terminating in lateralvivebs registering with the Webs of the flange and cushioning means interposed between the Webs on opposite sides of the flange.

5'. ln a Wheell, a hub,a rim having an internal flange. thereon with lateral webs extending from its sides, vertical guide menibers for the flange extending from the hub engaging the flange onopposite' sides and terminating in lateral Webs registering with the webs of the flange and cushioning means interposed between the Webs on opposite sidesof the flange, the Webs being curved in 'cross-section so as to substantially enclose the cushioning means.

, 6. Ina Wheel, a hub, a rim having an internal flange thereon with lateral Webs ex- ,tending from its sides, vertical guide members for the flange extending from the hub engaging the flangeon opposite sides and terminating in lateral Webs registering With the Webs of the flange and cushioning means interposed between the Webs on opposite sides. of the flange, the Webs being curved in cross-section soI as to substantially enclose. the cushioning means and having means associated therewith for preventing the cushioning means from sliding peripherally.

7. Ina Wheel, a hub, al rim having an internal flange thereon, guide plates extending from the hub in spaced and parallel relation engaging the flange on opposite sides,

lateral Webs extending from opposite sides of' the flange and from the guide plates in opposing relation, and cushioning means interposed between the webs on opposite sides of the flange.

8. In a- Wheel, a hub, a rim having an internal flange thereon; guide plates extending from the hub in spaced and parallel relation engaging the flange on opposite. sides, lateral Webs extending from opposite sides Vof the flange and from the guide plates in opposing relation, and cushioning means interposed between the webs on opposite sides of the. flange, the webs being curved 'in crosssection so as to substantially enclose the cushioning means.

JAMES H. LOCltETT.. 

